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Heads should roll over UPX debacle

Tues., March 1, 2016

Re: How to avoid the next UP Express debacle, Opinion Feb. 25

How to avoid the next UP Express debacle, Opinion Feb. 25

Murtaza Haider’s arguments are rock-solid. Thousands of regular citizens knew these things instinctively when the UP Express was proposed but Mr. Haider did the responsible thing and verified his suspicions with research.

The only plausible explanation for why this project proceeded despite common sense is that every person whose research was sought into the viability of the UPX was told what results were expected by those paying for the research. And, every one of them delivered as required.

As a result, every one of them below the rank of premier, including KPMG and the members of the board of Metrolinx, still has his job. The reason the premier of the day lost his job was because he admitted his failures and resigned.

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If anyone wishes government to slow down its production of white elephants, it will be necessary to fire a few very high-up bureaucrats and politicians. I seriously doubt that the auditor general would voice such heresy even if he knows it to be true.

Patrick Cowan, North York

Professor Murtaza Haider is too late to protect taxpayers from the next transit debacle. It has already occurred.

The Toronto-York Spadina Subway extension has faced inexplicable delays, enormous cost overruns, poor management and the usual lack of accountability, both in Toronto and in York Region.

Transit debacles in the GTA are coming down the track faster than professor Haider can take pen to paper. They could keep him writing for years, which, of course, is a professor’s dream.

Marilyn Ginsburg, Thornhill

How come the planners of the recent massive redevelopment at Pearson did not include a proper rail hub – or at least set aside the space and right of way for one to be built at at later date? Who is responsible for this massive short sightedness? The UP aerial slow-speed track on stilts demonstrates how the airport “planners” utterly failed to do the right thing.

Barry Bowes, Mississauga

I was surprised to read that “the only” successful rail-to-airport project in North America was in Washington, D.C. where National Airport is a stop on Virginia-bound metro lines. Vancouver’s Canada Line to the airport has beaten expectations since day one and is considered a success by pretty much everyone in this city.

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